Famed mother of 14 Nadya “Octomom” Suleman is currently under investigation by Los Angeles County for welfare fraud. Suleman has publicly discussed her on-again, off-again relationship with state and county benefits, but authorities suspect that she claimed thousands of dollars in benefits in 2012, despite the fact that she earned nearly $200,000 for her appearances in pornographic films and strip clubs.
TMZ reported that investigators from the Los Angeles County Department of Welfare and Fraud Prevention and Investigation (WFP&I) are currently seizing bank records and other documents from Suleman. The gossip website also obtained copies of a warrant that will allow investigators to search her home and the home and office of her manager.
RadarOnline reports that Suleman received approximately $60,000 in welfare benefits in 2012, despite the fact that she made a substantial amount of money from a film she released and dozens of public appearances. In 2012, Suleman publicly announced that she was getting off of welfare before returning to the system in 2013.
Suleman faced criticism in 2008, when, as a single-mother of six, she gave birth to a set of octuplets through in-vitro fertilization. She has attempted to capitalize on her fame as a means of supporting her children, but has struggled to do so.
After earning money through public appearances and a sex video, Suleman returned to welfare. A stint in rehab is believed to have sapped the majority of her savings, necessitating the return to government benefits. She is only eligible for the benefits if she makes less than $119,000 a year.
Suleman filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012, at which point she revealed that she had less than $50,000 in assets and owed almost $1 million.
The investigation began after the DWFP&I received a tip regarding Suleman’s income. If convicted of welfare fraud, Suleman faces up to three years in prison.